WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.600 Today in the gospel we see a very beautiful scene. 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:04.080 Why? 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:07.919 Because it's not merely a conversation, it is restoration. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:12.640 Remember where Peter is standing, he's standing near a charcoal fire. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:14.640 That detail matters. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:21.760 Because the last time Peter stood near a charcoal fire was during the passion, when he denied Christ three times. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:23.839 I do not know that man. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:25.760 Three denials. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.039 Now Jesus asked three questions. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:30.559 Do you love me? 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:33.439 One for every denial. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:35.840 This is how God heals. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:43.520 He goes back to the wound, to the root of the wound, not to shame us, but to restore us. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:49.520 And somebody needs to hear that today because many people think God works like the world. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:54.960 The world will tell you you failed, you're done, last chance. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.399 God says, let us begin again. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.399 Peter failed publicly, spectacularly. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:08.560 He denied Christ at the worst possible moment, and yet Jesus does not remove him. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:10.079 He restores him. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.680 He does not say, Peter, explain yourself, defend yourself, justify yourself. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.480 Why should I give you a more important role? 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:20.640 No, he asks one question. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.239 Do you love me? 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:29.760 Because in the end, Christianity is not first about performance, it's about relationship. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:31.840 Not are you perfect? 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:35.280 Not did you never fail? 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:37.680 Do you love me? 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:43.120 And Peter answers beautifully, Lord, you know everything. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:52.560 In other words, you know my failures, you know my weaknesses, you know my wounds, and still you know I love you. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.959 That may be one of the most honest prayers we can pray. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:01.359 Lord, I am not perfect, but you know my heart. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.879 Then comes something very important and very Catholic. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:11.360 Jesus says, feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.719 Love immediately becomes mission. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:18.319 Jesus does not say, Peter, do you love me? 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:19.120 Wonderful. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:21.360 Go have a private spiritual life. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:22.000 No. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.319 Love leads to service. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.400 Love leads to responsibility. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:28.479 Love leads to shepherding. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:32.240 Because authentic love always overflows. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:34.719 Then comes the hard part. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:41.840 Jesus tells Peter, When you were younger, you were you went where you wanted. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:47.520 But when you grow old, others will lead you where you do not want to go. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.319 The gospel tells us this refers to Peter's death. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:55.919 And this becomes a teaching moment for all of us. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:00.319 When we were young, we often think freedom means doing whatever we want. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:06.400 Christianity matures, maturity, Christian maturity teaches something different. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.120 Freedom is giving ourselves away. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:19.520 Peter spends his life moving from self-reliance to surrender, from I will never deny you to, Lord, you know everything. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.879 From controlling life to entrusting life, from fisherman to martyr. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:28.800 And notice the final words of Jesus, follow me. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:33.840 Not explain everything, not understand everything, follow me. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.400 Now look at the first reading. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:42.719 Festus is trying to explain Christianity to King Agrippa. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.120 And he almost sounds confused. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:53.759 He says the whole controversy seems to be about a certain Jesus who had died, but who Paul claimed was alive. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.560 It's an extraordinary sentence. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:03:59.599 That is Christianity. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:02.240 The world says Jesus died. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:04.800 The Christian says he lives. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:08.719 And because he lives, Peter can be restored. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:11.919 Because he lives, sinners can become saints. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:15.599 Because he lives, failures do not have the last word. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:20.399 Because he lives, death does not have the last word. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:23.519 Everything hangs on this. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:30.079 A certain Jesus who had died but is alive, that changes history. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.879 That changes Peter, that changes us. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:38.639 And maybe today Jesus is asking every one of us the same question he asked Peter. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:43.839 Not about theology, not about ministry, not about accomplishments, just this. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:45.680 Do you love me? 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:55.519 And if our answer is yes, however imperfect, however wounded, however weak, then the response of Christ remains the same. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:56.879 Follow me. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.759 Because if we love him, we have to be on mission. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:02.720 Amen.